The French "Art de vivre"

For the last five years, International living has rated France as one the best countries for its quality of life (number 1 in 2010).

Enjoy the French quality of life

Living in France means that you can benefit from an incredible quality of life which brings together well-being and pleasure through a unique culture, ancient traditions and a world-renowned haute cuisine in a country replete with beautiful landscapes.

Feel the rhythm of culture

You cannot stay in France without experiencing the flow of culture, from the earliest times to the 21st century: from painting masterpieces to classic and electro music, medieval and modern architecture, film and literature festivals, as well as cafés and restaurants where you can put the world to rights over a delicious meal and good French wine.

Taste the most divine cuisine

Wherever you are, you can enjoy a French meal and experience the most extraordinary gastronomy which was officially added to the UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2010. The list includes more than 350 kinds of cheese, grands crûs of Bordeaux, Bourgogne and Champagne, spicy Caribbean delicacy and masterpieces of culinary stars (Pierre Gagnaire, Guy Savoy, Alain Ducass, Yannick Alléno…). There is only one rule: you have to take your time to enjoy your meal, which is a sacred institution in France.

Take advantage of a high-quality health care system

In France, you can benefit from one of the best health care systems in the world, ranked number one by the World Health Organization (WHO) and almost free for students.

French people also have very high life expectancy (77 years for men and 84 years for women).

Visit a country boasting beautiful landscapes

In France, you will discover some astonishing geographical contrasts: France is made up of great cities like Paris – the capital which is one of the most populous metropolises (11 million inhabitants) of Europe – but also of more than 36 000 towns and villages and numerousfields and plains (France is the 3rd agricultural exporter in the world). The Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel bound its coasts. Finally, France has numerous mountains like the Alps which are towered above by the Mont-Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. This variety of landscapes makes France one of the top destinations for holidays and leisure of all kinds (board sports, hiking, biking, and photography).

Come to the world’s most popular tourist destination which welcomes more than 82 million visitors each year

France has a lot to offer with 37 locations figuring on the World Heritage list. You will most certainly discover the “city of lights,” Paris, the world’s top destination for business tourism and international conferences. In Paris, you can climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower or stroll in the bustling streets of the Latin Quarter or of Montmartre and stop in one of the numerous cafés or pubs of the capital. You won’t leave the city before visiting Le Louvre, the CentreBeaubourg or the Muséed’Orsay, which are some of the most famous art museums in the world. Another enticing destination is Lille, a big student city in the North of France where you can eat delicious Liège waffles on the “Grand place” or drink a beer in a pub of the “Vieux-Lille.” The city of Lyon is a must-see destination, labelled the “Capital of the Gauls and gastronomy.” There, you can go to a “bouchon” which is a sort of a small restaurant where you can enjoy some rosette, andouillette or pogne. In the South of France, you can visit Marseilles, a sunny place on the coast which is famous for its lovely coves and its “Vieux-Port” which is towered above by the church “Notre Dame de la Garde”. You will also have to visit some of the numerous French castles among which the castle of Versailles and the Châteaux de la Loire are particularly impressive, and to some of the gothic cathedrals and abbeys which contain architectural treasures.